Towns continue work on wind ordinances

UNION TOWNSHIP  The town of Union plan commission extended a moratorium on large wind turbines to November at a meeting Thursday night while the town continues work on an ordinance to regulate the turbines.

Committee member Doug Zweizig said officials don’t think they’ll need that much time, however. He’s hopeful the plan commission will vote at its July 31 meeting on a recommendation to the town board.

The draft ordinance states wind turbines are to be built at least a half-mile from homes and 1,000 feet from property lines.

The commission took no other action, but heard from 15 people during the public hearing, Zweizig said.

About 30 people also spoke at a public hearing the commission held May 30 on the draft ordinance.

The commission has held two working meetings since then and has added a provision to allow property owners to place turbines as close as 1.1 times the height of the tower from a property line.

The commission is scheduling two working meetings in July before its regular meeting July 31.

Magnolia Township

The town of Magnolia planning and zoning commission already has recommended a draft wind ordinance to the town board, which will hold a public hearing and possible vote at a special meeting Thursday night.

The hearing is at 7 p.m. at the Magnolia Town Hall, 14729 W. County A, Evansville.

Supervisor Dave Olsen said the board was “not at all” concerned about holding the public hearing the night before a national holiday and start of a three-day weekend.

“I guess it’s peoples’ priorities. If they’re interested in coming, they’ll come,” he said. “We just really wanted to get this accomplished as soon as we could.”

A copy of the draft ordinance is available for review at the Eager Free Public Library, 39 W. Main St., Evansville; Brodhead Memorial Public Library, 902 W. 2nd Ave., Brodhead; or at clerk/treasurer Graceann Toberman’s home by calling (608) 876-6771.

The proposed ordinance states turbines must be built at least a half-mile from a home and at least 1,000 feet from a property line. A provision allows the turbines to be built closer than a half-mile if property owners grant permission but not closer than 1,000 feet or three times the height of the turbine.